Blood Series: Yellow - Chapter Twelve
Alec pulled into the driveway of Zayn and Nikole’s home, ready to unload all of her items and say goodbye to the Royal Family forever. He couldn’t agree to stay here, and he was a fool for thinking he even deserved to have her in his life. He parked the truck and stepped out onto the pavement. Something seemed wrong about wanting to stay with her, but Alec couldn’t tell if it was simply that he wasn’t good enough or if it was a greater issue.
He began unloading Nikole’s things from the truck when servants stepped out of the house and made their way toward him. They moved him out of the way and began taking care of her things, insisting that he not lift a finger. This was just another reminder of what he would be moving into. He couldn’t let a person wait on him. That went against his nature, against how he had been for as long as he remembered.
“I have that, let me take it,” he said to one of the men as he pulled Nikole’s suitcase away from them. He walked up the pathway and across the threshold of the house; everything looked like it had when he was last there. He had heard what Zayn did when they left last time. He was surprised that the contractors were able to put everything back to the original settings.
What was I thinking? I don’t even stand a chance belonging, he thought to himself as he walked along the walls of the upstairs, looking at the paintings of Zayn and Nikole’s ancestors. The portrait right outside of Nikole’s room was her abb, King Tamman. How could he stay here knowing what happened to Tamman and his queen the night he let Haydar go free?
Alec set Nikole’s suitcase down and dropped to one knee. He lowered his head and placed his hand over his heart. The grief he was feeling overtook his body as the memories of entering the royal army came flying back. He’d sworn allegiance and fealty. How could he act as if he lived up to his word knowing now what had happened because of his lack of action?
“Alec Palermo, rise and come forward to accept your place in our military,” King Tamman announced to the audience in the throne room. Alec stood up from his seat and moved to the front where the pillow awaited him to kneel on. Reaching his king, he dropped his right leg to the plush, purple pillow, lowering his head and placing his right hand across his heart and his left hand on the king’s right fist, above his ring.
“Alec, do you swear allegiance to the throne and the Royal Family?”
“I do.”
“Do you swear to uphold the safety of the Algula people before all others?”
“I do.”
“Do you swear that no self-interest or personal vendetta will come between you and your duties to protect the crown?”
“I do.”
Tamman took his sword and placed it on each of Alec’s shoulders, knighting him with the narrow width of the blade. “Please rise, Sir Palermo. Take your place at the knights’ table.”
Alec stood and walked toward his peers. He took his seat in the open chair they had set aside for him. He knew he had finally achieved the highest honor bestowed on someone not in the Royal Family, and pride filled his body. He looked out to the witnesses and saw his Annah smiling at him. The warmth in her face was all he needed to see to know he was doing the right thing.
Not only had Alec gone back on his word, which had been punishable by death, but he’d sworn it in front of Annah. Now for him to even think about being with King Tamman’s bent was treason. He brought her suitcase back up in his hands and pushed open her bedroom door. He started to simply set the suitcase on the bed when he decided he just couldn’t leave. He opened the case and started to remove her clothing. One by one, he hung the items up in her closet. He arranged them just like she had them at his place. The colors each separated and placed together in groups, just like she liked them.
“Master Alec, are you in here, sir?” one of the servants called out as he pushed the door open. Alec turned to the door and looked at the servant.
“Yeah, I’m in here.” The servant was nervous about something. His behavior was off, and with the appearance of unfortunate news evident, his nerves started going on edge. “Is something wrong?”
“Miss Nikole called and notified us that you are to stay for dinner, and I was to make sure to tell you. She sounded upset on the phone, and I thought I heard Master Zayn’s voice in the background.”
“Thank you, but I won’t be staying for dinner. Tell your mistress that I will speak with her later on. I’m going to finish unpacking her things then leave. You’re dismissed.”
The servant gave a slight bow then departed. Alec pulled out the next suitcase and started putting away the remaining items. As he placed the last of her lingerie in the drawer, he closed it and sat down on her bed. I can do this; I can be strong. He knew he had no other choice but to end the relationship, as much as he didn’t want to.
He left her room and headed back down to his truck. The servants didn’t say a word to him as he loaded up and started driving out of their secured fence.